3 February 2016 - The Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver joined in the University of British Columbia’s “Of Rice and Roots” (ORAR) Southeast Asian food festival, which was held on 2 February 2016. The event was organized by the Centre for Southeast Asian Research (CSEAR) in cooperation with the different Southeast Asian student associations in UBC and the ASEAN Consulates in Vancouver. Aside from the Philippines, the Consulates of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand were likewise represented.

Now on its 3rd year, ORAR enabled the ASEAN group to once again promote better appreciation and understanding of the region and its people within the UBC community by providing guests and attendees firsthand experience of ASEAN culture and cuisine.

The Philippine booth was a favorite among guests who were drawn to the display of colorful “Its More Fun in the Philippines” posters. Apart from tourism materials, the Philippine booth showcased Philippine-made wooden handicrafts, embroidery, and jewelry. Guests and onlookers were usually attracted to dolls donning different Filipiniana costumes and the lighted “Bahay Kubo”. Samples of different flavored “hopia” and “ensaymada” from Kumare, a flourishing Filipino Restaurant in Metro Vancouver, were also popular during the night.